The thing about Thanksgiving …
Thanksgiving is that uniquely American holiday when lots of relatives who may not see each other often (or have much in common) get together for a big meal. Stuffing or dressing? Mashed or sweet? Pumpkin or pecan? And that’s before sports and politics.
Choosing wines for Thanksgiving can also seem challenging. The flavors of the traditional menu are as diverse as the guests. The key is balance.
Balance means a harmonious blend of the basic flavors in wine – tart, fruity, bitter, and alcohol. Tartness comes from acidity in grapes, fruitiness comes from ripe grapes, bitterness comes mostly from tannin in grape skins, and alcohol comes from fermentation. If any of these component flavors overwhelms the others, the wine can seem uneven or simply unpleasant. But if the acidity, tannin, fruit and alcohol are coherent and complementary, the wine is nicely balanced.
Balanced wines have two great attributes. They are crowd-pleasers, and they taste good with many kinds of food – just the ticket for Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of good suggestions.
Turkey is a fowl, but it is also a game bird with rich, dark flavors and texture. Elegantly balanced 2018 Ursa Tannat Rosé walks the line between white and red wines, a flattering partner for the big bird. Dark meat lovers may prefer an aromatic red like the 2016 Bending Branch Tempranillo. Both these well-balanced wines are also compatible with the many heirloom side dishes on the holiday table.
The cousin who rarely drinks may prefer something a little fruitier like Bending Branch Thinkers Blanc. Also consider having a bottle of Bending Branch 2017 Texas Tannat® around for that uncle whose tastes tend toward whisky and cigars. In wine as in family, balance is the answer.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Bending Branch Family!
Our hearts are with the Bob, Brenda, and Alison Young, as they mourn the death of Owner Brenda Mobley Young's mother.
Wilma Blanche Mobley, 93, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, passed away at 6 a.m., Tuesday, February 12, 2019, while staying at the Willows at Citation in Lexington, Kentucky.
She was born February 6, 1926 in Washington County to the late Worley Cassius Lay and Isa Mae (Adkinson) Lay and attended the Mackville School. Her marriage of 69 years was to Ernest Mobley on December 8, 1945; he preceded her in death on September 17, 2015.
After raising her four young children, Mrs. Mobley took a job at Cricketeer Clothing Manufacturers in Harrodsburg where she worked as a seamstress for over twenty-five years.
Mrs. Mobley was a long-time member of the Harrodsburg Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school classes for pre-school children for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her gardening skills planting and nurturing a variety of flowers in her yard earned her recognition through a feature article in the Harrodsburg Herald newspaper.
Survivors are her sister, Virginia Isham of Lawrenceburg; a brother, Leo (Doris) Lay of Willisburg; children Brenda (Bob) Young of Comfort, TX, Judy (Bob) Boggs of Lexington, Danny (Cathy) Mobley of Harrodsburg, and David (Pam) Mobley of Danville; her grandchildren, Missy (Bobby) Walden of Harrodsburg, Matthew Riddell of Louisville, Michael Mobley of Frankfort, Amy (Aaron) Detjen of Lexington, and Alison Young of Comfort, TX; her great-grandchildren, Nick Walden, Lauren Riddell, Quentin Mobley, Ella Detjen, Liam Detjen, Jackson Rivenburgh, Ava Riddell, Norah Detjen, Libby Walden, Chloe Rivenburgh, Lia Riddell, and Charlie Myers.
Preceding her in death with her parents and husband are sisters, Isa Bell Coulter, Mary Lee Coker, Amie Ross, and Mayola Meadows; brothers, Frank Lay, Paul Lay, Hobert Lay, Dudley Lay, Alvie Lay, Hollis Lay, and an Infant; and a grandson, Phillip Young.
Friends may call 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Ransdell Funeral Chapel, 345 E. Lexington Street, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, (859) 734-4317.
Our hearts are with the Bob, Brenda, and Alison Young, as they mourn the death of Owner Brenda Mobley Young's mother.
Wilma Blanche Mobley, 93, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, passed away at 6 a.m., Tuesday, February 12, 2019, while staying at the Willows at Citation in Lexington, Kentucky.
She was born February 6, 1926 in Washington County to the late Worley Cassius Lay and Isa Mae (Adkinson) Lay and attended the Mackville School. Her marriage of 69 years was to Ernest Mobley on December 8, 1945; he preceded her in death on September 17, 2015.
After raising her four young children, Mrs. Mobley took a job at Cricketeer Clothing Manufacturers in Harrodsburg where she worked as a seamstress for over twenty-five years.
Mrs. Mobley was a long-time member of the Harrodsburg Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school classes for pre-school children for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her gardening skills planting and nurturing a variety of flowers in her yard earned her recognition through a feature article in the Harrodsburg Herald newspaper.
Survivors are her sister, Virginia Isham of Lawrenceburg; a brother, Leo (Doris) Lay of Willisburg; children Brenda (Bob) Young of Comfort, TX, Judy (Bob) Boggs of Lexington, Danny (Cathy) Mobley of Harrodsburg, and David (Pam) Mobley of Danville; her grandchildren, Missy (Bobby) Walden of Harrodsburg, Matthew Riddell of Louisville, Michael Mobley of Frankfort, Amy (Aaron) Detjen of Lexington, and Alison Young of Comfort, TX; her great-grandchildren, Nick Walden, Lauren Riddell, Quentin Mobley, Ella Detjen, Liam Detjen, Jackson Rivenburgh, Ava Riddell, Norah Detjen, Libby Walden, Chloe Rivenburgh, Lia Riddell, and Charlie Myers.
Preceding her in death with her parents and husband are sisters, Isa Bell Coulter, Mary Lee Coker, Amie Ross, and Mayola Meadows; brothers, Frank Lay, Paul Lay, Hobert Lay, Dudley Lay, Alvie Lay, Hollis Lay, and an Infant; and a grandson, Phillip Young.
Friends may call 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Ransdell Funeral Chapel, 345 E. Lexington Street, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, (859) 734-4317.